This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This quick and easy pasta is a perfect light meal for when you really don’t feel like cooking – it takes just minutes to make and is bursting with flavor!
Similar to my Tomato, Bacon & Asparagus Pasta, this recipe has a simple sauce that is created by combining and cooking down olive oil, garlic and tomatoes. The secret – you add some of the pasta cooking water!
The garlic and olive are heated over a medium-low heat, which causes the garlic to infuse the oil with that amazing garlic flavor, rather than actually “cooking” the garlic, which can leave a bitter taste. Adding some red pepper flakes gives just a little kick of heat.
You can use any small tomato you like, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. I happened to pick up some of these gorgeous rustic tomatoes at our local farmer’s market and knew they would be perfect for this pasta. I love when they blister and burst in the pan.
Adding the pasta water adds a little starch to the sauce, so as it reduces down it thickens. What you end up with is this beautiful sauce that coats the pasta and gives it a luscious feel. The recipe below makes two generous servings, but could easily be doubled or even tripled.
10 Minute Garlic & Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound half a box dry spaghetti
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic minced
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup parsley roughly chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Fresh grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the spaghetti and cook, until about three-quarters of the way done.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes before adding the tomatoes and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes begin to blister, about 2-3 minutes. Add a ladle full of the pasta water and the chopped parsley to the tomatoes.
- When the pasta is three-quarters of the way cooked (it will still have a good bite to it), remove it from the water and add it to the saute pan. The liquid will reduce as the pasta finishes to form a sauce.
- Season with salt and garnish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
For more quick and easy dinner ideas, try these:
We make this all the time but I sub out the parsley for basil. Yum!
Sounds like a great swap!
Love this recipe! Have made it a few time. Super easy. Thank you for sharing.
Made this for dinner last night. It was delicious and easy to put together. I’ll definitely be making it again! Thank you for sharing. ?
MMMMmm….looks and sounds delish! My neighbor just gave me a bag of cherry tomatoes today, so I will be making this one tomorrow! Can’t wait! Thanks for sharing.
This garlic tomato pasta looks fabulous! A good way to gather up the last of the tomatoes beauties hiding in your garden! Thank you again for the inspiration!